DD Council Minutes – 2/8/18

1. Introductions were completed.

 

1. Minutes from the last meeting were approved; if you would like to refer to past minutes, they are always available on the DD Council website: (www.manhattanddcouncil.org).

 

III.       Announcements  : SEE FLYER DISTRIBUTED AT MEETING

YAI

Information is attached for service vacancies, Parents with Special Needs, and Transition to Independence for young adults on the autism spectrum (yoga and mindfulness). For information about any YAI programs, please call 212-273-6182, or email link@yai.org.

 

Birch Family Services

See attached for information on “Across the Lifespan,” a series of seminars and workshops for people on the autism spectrum, and the families and professionals supporting them.

 

NYC FAIR

There will be a meeting on March 7 from 6-8pm at IAC (150 West 30^th Street, 15^th floor), featuring Senator Carlucci’s former aide, and Susan Constantino, Director of CP of NY State. Go to www.nycfair.org for more information and to register.

 

New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

NYPLI is a non-profit legal organization that offers free legal services for people with disabilities in New York City. See attached for information on some of the programs they offer.

 

Accessible Dispatch

People with disabilities and who use wheelchairs are eligible for rides on demand from NYC green and yellow taxis, by using an app, a making a phone call, or via a website. There might be a 10-25 minute wait in Manhattan, or a 10-15 minute wait in the outer boroughs. To learn more, see attached, or go to www.accessibledispatch.com.

 

ADAPT Community Network – formerly UCP of New York City

There are openings in the upper Manhattan Day Hab programs, which feature a wheelchair clinic, and onsite OT and PT services. For information, please call Maggie Maldonado at 212-683-6700, ext. 1291.

Information is attached regarding program vacancies and family reimbursement. Details are also attached for free workshops and a save the date/details for the Annual Family Summit in April, 2018.

For information on any programs or services, please call 718-436-7979 ext. 704, or email familyconnect@adaptcommunitynetwork.org

 

 

AHRC NYC

Program vacancy list is attached, along with information about a Manhattan Town Hall meeting on February 26 at 6:30pm.

QSAC

Information is attached for program openings.

 

Partners Health Plan (PHP)

PHP has a new look – go to www.phpcares.org for more information. They also have vacancies in Care Coordination for adults with both Medicaid and Medicare. Staff are available to do presentations and open houses for any agencies who are interested. Contact ABacani@phpcares.org for details.

 

***Check out the new and improved Manhattan DD Council website!*** www.manhattanddcouncil.org

If you have information from your agency that you would like to include, please email pdf files to manhattanddcouncil@gmail.com

 

Presentation on NYS Executive Budget: Tom McAlvanah, Wini Schiff, Chris Treiber, IAC

Tom McAlvanah, CEO, IAC, pointed out that with our success last year obtaining small wage increases for DSPs, we were heard, but are now forgotten. We need everyone – self-advocates, families, providers – advocating together to make sure we are heard this year.

 

NYS has a $4.4 billion deficit, as projected last month. Because of new federal legislation, NYS will likely experience a $2 billion cut in health care and a 25% increase in state and local taxes (because of elimination of deductions for those items). This will be a tough budget year. By February 16, the Governor’s 30-day amendments to the budget will be submitted which may have more detail on the impact to NYS of federal actions.

 

As of now, the Governor’s proposed budget includes increases to all mental hygiene sectors: OPWDD got a 3.7% increase; OMH got an increase of 3.4%; OASAS got an increase of 4.5%; and the Justice Center got an increase of 4.7%.

 

The budget for OPWDD includes:

• $120 million (all shares, annualized) for new development of all new services, including residential, day hab, and respite
• Funding to support the second year of our multi-year bFair2DirectCare funding request for a living wage for our low wage workers (3.25% in January 2018 for 100 & 200 CFR codes and 3.25% in April 2018 for 100, 200 & 300 CFR code salaries).
• $15 million in capital funding for ISS and Self-Direction services
• Funding for intensive residential opportunities under OPWDD and OMH for people who are dually diagnosed: this would be temporary housing for people who would later be able to move to less restrictive housing.
• Funding for the transition from Medicaid Service Coordination to Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs)
• Continuation of a Blue Ribbon Panel exploring whether some operational elements of the Institute for Basic Research in Staten Island should be transitioned to CUNY of Staten Island

 

IAC’s positions regarding OPWDD include:

• Continuation of the bFair2DirectCare campaign, spearheaded by COPA (Coalition of Provider Associations). DSP turnover and vacancy rates have continued to increase, even over last year. Turnover is now 26.7%. Vacancy rate is now 14% (meaning 1.5 positions out of 10 are unfilled). Our goal is to get to a living wage for our DSPs: $17.72/hour in NYC. In last year’s budget we got two installments out of six. Now we need to speed up the increases over 3 years.
• Last year’s increase 3.25% January 1 and 3.25% April 1, 2018, were granted instead of a trend (cost of living increase).   Despite increased costs of everything, including health care and other types of insurance, there is no trend in the budget. We must request it.
• Regarding residential development, IAC supports the requests of the “Keep the Promise Family Coalition” that New York State: transparently assess the number of persons who have requested or need residential services and keep a wait list with a publicly available summary; streamline the eligibility process; provide both capital and operating funding to establish as many new residential opportunities as necessary to meet the needs.

The budget for State Education Department includes a 3% increase in school aid, amounting to $769 million. The Board of Regents had requested $1.6 billion. The budget also includes $15 million for expansion of universal preK in high-needs districts. There is a reduction in funding for summer school special education. Special ed transportation funding will be capped. Additionally, there is a blanket waiver of state regulations that exceed federal requirements (regarding class size, burden of proof, etc.). There is no mention of 853 or 4410 non-public schools.

 

IAC’s positions regarding SED include:

• Increased funding for recruitment and retention of staff in 853 and 4410 schools. There is a 28% turnover rate of teachers in 853 schools, and a 30% turnover rate in 4410 schools. Public schools are recruiting our teachers: there is a $30,000 salary differential between public and nonpublic schools. NYC can’t handle the children in our schools yet they are taking our teachers.

• The same tuition increases for 853 and 4410 schools as those given to the public schools.

 

The budget for DOH includes:

• The same Early Intervention (EI) reforms as in the past several years, including a requirement that EI providers must appeal insurance denials to the last appeal in exchange for a 2% increase. IAC rejects this: the cost of appeals is greater than 2%.

• A speeding of evaluations – screenings or partial evals instead of full evals. IAC rejects this recommendation.
• Elimination of provider prevails. IAC rejects this.

• Expanded Medicaid-covered telemedicine to residential settings to provide greater access to remote care and to avoid unnecessary ER usage. IAC supports this.
• Medicaid crossover payments for Article 28 clinics serving people with traumatic brain injury, allowing clinics to bill up to the full Medicaid rate.       IAC supports this.
• An additional $425 million capital investment for health care providers, including Article 16 and 28 clinics. IAC supports this.

IAC Lobby Days are February 28 and March 1 where participants meet with legislators in Albany. There will be a bFair2DirectCare rally in Albany on February 13 before the Mental Hygiene hearings and possibly more rallies in March. Advocacy is critical again this year.

 

1. State News – Ellen Bleckman

• Six CCOs have been approved, three of which are downstate. Additionally, four additional CCOs being considered. A decision will be announced next week.
• OPWDD’s MSC webinar trainings are continuing two Wednesdays per month. Powerpoints are posted on the OPWDD website: opwdd.ny.gov.
• OPWDD will hold forums with the CCOs. It was suggested that families and self-advocates should be part of the panel at these forums.
• The RFS for residential services is moving forward. OPWDD is working with agencies.

• New York State Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Board is holding public forums around the state.       The Manhattan forum will be Thursday, February 22, noon-2:00 pm at the Department of Health Office (in the Federal Office Building), Room A/B, 4^th floor, 90 Church Street, Manhattan, NY 10007. People may register to speak at opwdd.ny.gov website or send written comments to:  ASDadvisoryboard@opwdd.ny.gov OPWDD, Attn: N. Mitchell, ASD Board,  44 Holland Ave, 3^rd floor, Albany, NY 12229.

 

1. City News – Sandra Piggee

No report. Marco Damiani reported that the Community Services Board has an I/DD subcommittee, of which Marco is a member. They are dealing with the issue of how to increase access to services.

 

1. IAC – Jim Malley

The budget and Lobby Days are the main focus of IAC at present. The borough Council representatives are meeting again February 23 to discuss their respective Legislative Breakfasts and advocacy issues.

 

The Local Government Plan meeting is scheduled for April 24. Jim recommends that we prepare for the meeting in advance as we did last year.

 

VII. Committees

Family and Provider Information Committee:  Kathy Kelly reported that the new merged committee met January 23 with a good turnout. At the meeting Kathy provided an update on CCOs and well as an overview of Coordinated Assessment System (CAS) problem areas. They distributed information for MSCs and Tips for Families on how to prepare for CAS, what to look for, what to do. Future meetings will probably continue providing CCO updates. Next meeting: Tuesday, February 27, 2018, 10:00 am – noon, AHRC, 83 Maiden Lane, 11^th floor. The topic will be residential opportunities, presented by Evette Herdsman, DDRO. Information: Carol Lincoln (718) 859-5420 x 225; clincoln@adaptcommunitynetwork.org.

Legislative Committee: Jim Malley reminded the Council that the Legislative Breakfast is four weeks away. People should call their local legislators and urge them to attend. At the Breakfast a panel will present the DSP wage issue from different points of view. OPWDD’s Acting Commissioner has responded that she will attend. Volunteers are needed to help with the sign in.

 

Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council: Margaret Puddington mentioned that the MFSSAC co-sponsored today’s DD Council budget meeting. An Executive Committee meeting will be held following today’s DD Council meeting. The next MFSSAC meeting will be held in late March and will feature representatives from the three CCOs and Partners Health Plan. Information: Margaret Puddington (212) 799-2042; Margaret.puddington@gmail.com.